1 Kapampangan poet Amado Gigante (seated) gets his gold laurel crown as the latest poet laureate of Pampanga; Dhong Turla (right), president of the Aguman Buklud Kapampangan delivers his exhortation to fellow poets of November. Museum curator Alex Castro PIESTANG TUGAK NEWSBRIEFS explained that early Kapampangans had their wakes, funeral processions and burials The City of San Fernando recently held at POETS’ SOCIETY photographed to record their departed loved the Hilaga (former Paskuhan Village) the The Aguman Buklud Kapampangan ones’ final moments with them. These first-of-its-kind frog festival celebrating celebrated its 15th anniversary last pictures, in turn, reveal a lot about our Kapampangans’ penchant for amphibian November 28 by holding a cultural show at ancestors’ way of life and belief systems. cuisine. The activity was organized by city Holy Angel University. Dhong Turla, Phol tourism officer Ivan Anthony Henares. Batac, Felix Garcia, Jaspe Dula, Totoy MALAYA LOLAS DOCU The Center participated by giving a lecture Bato, Renie Salor and other officers and on Kapampangan culture and history and members of the organization took turns lending cultural performers like rondalla, reciting poems and singing traditional The Center for Kapampangan Studies, the choir and marching band. Kapampangan songs. Highlight of the show women’s organization KAISA-KA, and was the crowning of laurel leaves on two Infomax Cable TV will co-sponsor the VIRGEN DE LOS new poets laureate, Amado Gigante of production of a video documentary on the REMEDIOS POSTAL Angeles City and Francisco Guinto of plight of the Malaya Lolas of Mapaniqui, Macabebe. Angeles City Councilor Vicky Candaba, victims of mass rape during World COVER Vega Cabigting, faculty and students War II. The project is being supervised by attended the affair. Sonia Soto, KAISA-KA president, based on A first-of-its-kind a project proposal by Tonette Orejas of commemorative Infomax. The Malaya Lolas were abducted cover featuring and then raped by Japanese soldiers after the Baliti image witnessing the massacre of their menfolk. of Virgen de los With only 70 members remaining, they are Remedios, asking the Japanese Government for a Patroness of Pampanga, was recently public apology. launched in cancellation ceremonies held at the Center for Kapampangan Studies. Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, DD, Asst. Postmaster-General Diomedio Villanueva, PhilPost Region III Director UNDAS EXHIBIT Amelia Cunanan graced the affair. The A photo exhibit entitled Kematen was the project is a brainchild of Jorge Henson featured attraction at the Center for Cuyugan, President of the Philippine Stamp Kapampangan Studies gallery for the month Collectors Society. 2 RECENT Center co-produces VISITORS ArtiSta.Rita CD AUGUST ArtiSta. Rita, the Luis Lorenzo, Secretary sensational singing group from Sta. of Agriculture Rita, Pampanga, in cooperation with Rep. Oscar Moreno, the Center for Kapampangan Misamis Oriental Studies, recently launched a Yeng Guiao, Board Member L. LORENZO compact disc of 11 traditional and Clayton Olalia, former Pamp. four contemporary Kapampangan Vice Governor songs. The group’s director, Andy Jay Sonza, TV/radio personality Alviz, said that the CD aims to make Elwood Perez, film Kapampangan songs accessible to director today’s sophisticated listeners. Lush Mayor Babes Evangelista, orchestration and soaring vocals Candaba have given folk songs, rarely sung Leopoldo Valdes, Jr. and often taken for granted, a new Frankie Villanueva refreshing spin. The pop O. MORENO inspirational song, Kapampangan SEPTEMBER Ku, composed by Alviz, features Ricardo Trota Jose vocals by well-known Kapampangan Rep. Jesli Lapus, 3rd District Tarlac artists Nanette Inventor, Jeff Dr. Ronald Post, US Arcilla, Michael de Mesa and Embassy Mon David. Tony Perez, SpiritQuest The ArtiSta. Rita CD is a worthy follow-up to the groundbreaking CD Pamalsinta Dr. Jaime Veneracion qng Milabas, produced three years ago by the Sapni nang Crissot, and an alternative to Ramon Zaragoza, the spate of pirated Kapampangan CDs flooding the sidewalks today. Last December antique collector 22, a formal launching was held at Villa Epifania in Sta. Rita, attended by such luminaries Councilor Louie Reyes, R. ZARAGOZA as Prof. Randy David, film director Marilou Diaz Abaya, Levi Laus, Rep. Oscar Angeles City Rodriguez and others. HAU President Bernadette Nepomuceno delivered a message, Kathleen Crittenden while Alviz thanked the University for its support. The project’s musical directors are Dom Martin de Jesus H. Gomez,OSB Recy Pineda, Randy del Rosario, Gie Lansang and Hancel Lapid. Archt. Augusto Villalon The CDs can be purchased at the Center for Kapampangan Studies and other Bishop Leopoldo Tumulak, major outlets. For orders, call (045) 888-8691, or email [email protected] or text at DD 0918 941 8599. Fr. Gabriel Casal Fr. Roy Rosales Willie Layug, sculptor Kapampangan Research Journal Fr. Gaspar Sigaya, OP, Manaoag Museum RICO JOSE The maiden issue of Alaya: Kapampangan Regalado Trota Jose Research Journal has been released by the Center. Edited by Prof. Lino Dizon, the journal features OCTOBER, NOVEMBER articles on the Historical Data Papers (HDP), Bayani Fernando, saniculas biscuit, the Philippine Revolution in MMDA Chairman Pampanga, former towns of Tarlac, the Pampanga Bishop Raul Q. Martinez, furniture industry and the resettlement Antique phenomenon in Bacolor. Aside from Prof. Dizon, Efrain Soto, Sapni nang the contributors include Dr. John Alan Larkin, Crissot Dr. Niels Beerepoot, Dr. Jean-Christophe Gaillard, Fray Francis Musni, OSA and Erlita Victoriano Dungca, J. SONZA intl. airline consultant Mendoza. Malu Rivera, PLDT Makati Reviews of books published by the Center Faculty, Siena College Taytay, Rizal for Kapampangan Studies are also included in the Dr. Linda Andaya, issue; reviewers include Nick Joaquin, Dr. Jaime Univ. of Pangasinan Veneracion, Fr. Jose Arcilla, SJ, Fr. John Dr. Catalina Felicitas, Schumacher, SJ and Dr. Randolf David. There Pangasinan State Univ. is also a write-up on the First International Dr. Juanita Anoc, Conference on Kapampangan Studies held at Holy Pangasinan State Univ. Angel University two years ago. The editorial board of the refereed journal Marino Repalda, Dagupan B. FERNANDO City is composed of Dr. Dante Canlas, Dr. Eusebio Dizon, Dr. Emmanuel Ramos, Dr. Msgr. Jose Barrion, Pakil, Laguna Rodolfo Tamayo, Jr., Dr. Randolf David, Dr. Jean-Christophe Gaillard and Dr. Noel Lopez Catacutan, AAP John Larkin. For queries, please contact (045) 888-8691 loc. 1311, or email at [email protected]. 3 National Convention of Church Heritage Workers “Protect the churches!” Convention delegates marvel at the restored retablo inside Bacolor church; below, animated discussions at the conven- tion venue in HAU as well as inside the Betis church THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Among the speakers were Philippines (CBCP), through its Permanent Architect Augusto Villalon, Prof. Committee for the Cultural Heritage of the Regalado Trota Jose, Dom. Bernardo Church, called on the faithful to protect their Ma. Perez, OSB, Atty. Rose Angeles and old churches against burglars, antique Faustino Ramos of the PNP. The smugglers and destruction by natural and Kapampangan lecturers were Fr. Pablo manmade causes. David, Prof. Lino Dizon and Fray Francis At the recent Third Biennial Musni, OSA. National Convention of Church Cultural The convention’s guest speaker, Heritage Workers hosted by the Archdiocese Archbishop Francesco Marchisano, of San Fernando, Pampanga and held at President of the Pontifical Commission for Holy Angel University in Angeles City, the Cultural Heritage of the Church, failed Bishop Leopoldo S. Tumulak, DD of to come as he was elevated to Cardinal by Tagbilaran, who chairs the said CBCP Pope John Paul II right on the convention’s committee, appealed to more than 100 opening day. delegates from the country’s 70 Archbishop Paciano B. Aniceto, archdioceses and dioceses to be the DD of San Fernando, welcomed the guardians of the Church’s cultural patrimony. delegates and announced the creation of The convention tackled issues such an archdiocesan commission on church as church renovations, antique trafficking, heritage which will, among other tasks, role of clergy and laity in managing church provide technical assistance to parishes property, and the perennial debate of undertaking church renovations. He apostolate versus aesthetics. The speakers appointed the Director of the Center for urged dioceses and parishes all over the Kapampangan Studies as first member of country to set up their own museums, the commission. libraries and archives not only as haven for The delegates toured Bacolor church artifacts but as instruments of church, which was half-buried by lahar in declared a national treasure; Sasmuan evangelization. 1995; the Betis church, which was recently church, now undergoing renovation; Lubao church, recently renovated; Minalin church, which contains centuries-old murals; the Archdiocesan Museum; and Sto. Tomas church, also recently renovated. The delegates were warmly welcomed by parish priests and parish pastoral councils. 4 Intercultural show Traditional Japanese dancer performs at the Center Einojoh Senju of the Hanayagi School of Dance recently performed traditional Japanese dances at the Center for Kapampangan Studies. Einojoh Senju heads the Senju Ryu or the Senju School of Classical Japanese Dance, and is the founder of the Senju Buyodan or Senju Classical Japanese Dance Group